Wall Street Raider

Wall Street Raider is less a game about buying a nice office and more an uncompromising simulation of corporate warfare. Released in 1986, it puts you in the role of an ambitious investor dealing with stocks, companies, acquisitions, debt, competition, and the many creative ways money can disappear. The interface is hardly glamorous, but underneath the numbers lies a surprisingly deep economic simulation. You can build wealth through investment and business decisions, manipulate companies, and attempt to become a financial powerhouse while keeping an eye on the competition. It is the sort of game where a spreadsheet can become more exciting than an explosion, which is an achievement in itself. The learning curve is steep, and newcomers may initially wonder whether they accidentally opened an accounting program. Stick with it, though, and Wall Street Raider reveals a sophisticated strategy experience that rewards careful thinking rather than quick reflexes.